Senator Baker E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • Senate Approves Bill to Boost PA Youth Hunting and Fishing
  • Stopping Mobile Device Carriers from Misleading Consumers
  • Alzheimer’s Association Holds Annual Advocacy Day
  • Free Hotline to Support New Parents
  • Honoring Law Enforcement Officers
  • Wayne County Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy Onyx is On Duty
  • May is ALS Awareness Month

Senate Approves Bill to Boost PA Youth Hunting and Fishing

The Senate unanimously approved legislation to create a new license plate for Pennsylvania sportsmen with proceeds used to fund youth hunting and fishing education. 

The Pennsylvania Sportsman registration plate would celebrate those who hunt and fish. Under Senate Bill 916, the plate would be designed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

The Pennsylvania Sportsman plate would cost $40 plus the registration fee, of which $14 would be deposited into a Youth Hunting and Fishing Restricted Account to be allocated equally to the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for the purpose of promoting youth hunting and fishing activities.

Stopping Major Mobile Device Carriers from Misleading Consumers

Pennsylvania reached a $10.25 million settlement with several major mobile device service carriers regarding deceptive advertising practices, including supposed “unlimited” data plans and “free” phones.

The settlement with AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Cricket and T-Mobile requires the carriers to disclose all attached fees and agreements, train customer service staff accordingly, and be truthful in future advertising.

The terms of the settlements address misrepresentations in advertisements concerning “unlimited” data advertisements, “free” phone offers, monetary incentives to switch wireless networks and wireless carrier plan comparisons. They will be able to claim that a consumer will save money by purchasing its products or services only when it’s reasonable based on comparisons with the prices of comparable goods and services of other providers.

Alzheimer’s Association Holds Annual Advocacy Day

The halls were a sea of purple as the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association recently held its annual Advocacy Day in Harrisburg. I was please to meet with local members of the organization to pledge my support for SB 840 and SB 954, to expand and enhance the way we address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders in the commonwealth and require insurance coverage for comprehensive biomarker testing.

Free Hotline to Support New Parents

While we celebrated mothers last week, they need our support more than simply on Mother’s Day – particularly when they recently had a baby and are much more prone to feeling depressed, anxious and overwhelmed.

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is free, confidential and available 24/7. Trained counselors can listen to what callers and texters are going through, connect them with local support groups and organizations, and refer them to other health care professionals if they need more care.

Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). Partners and other family members may also use the hotline as pregnancy and the birth of a baby can affect the whole family.

Honoring Law Enforcement Officers

From May 12-18, we celebrate National Police Week by honoring fallen officers and recognizing the significant role law enforcement officers play in keeping our communities safe, a top priority for Senate Republicans.

In support of that initiative, we have recently passed multiple laws to aid the men and women who work so hard to protect us. Act 34 of 2023 funded an additional 100 Pennsylvania State Police troopers to help make our communities safer. Act 10 of 2023 gave municipal police the authority to conduct fingerprint-based criminal history checks on police applicants to ensure we accept and train qualified individuals.

According to the Fraternal Order of Police, 25 officers were shot and five died in the line of duty in Pennsylvania in 2023.

Wayne County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Deputy Onyx is On Duty

Wayne County PA Sheriff’s Office K-9 Deputy Onyx was in town for the Pennsylvania Sheriffs Association’s Day on the Hill.

She joined Wayne County Sheriff Chris Rosler and Chief Deputy Sheriff Danene VanHorn in educating legislators on the issues impacting their service to our communities.

Thank you to all our sheriffs and deputies for the important work you do.

May is ALS Awareness Month

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disorder that occurs when motor nerve cells cease to function and die, often leading to total paralysis and death within five years of diagnosis. There is no cure.

Multiple research studies indicate that people who have served in the military are more likely to develop ALS and die from the disease than those with no history of military service. In most cases, the mind of a person with ALS remains sharp and alert, but voluntary muscle control becomes completely lost. As people with ALS lose the ability to walk, talk, and even breathe, the disease requires them to rely on caregivers, often their family members, to provide the care and assistance needed to perform normal daily activities. In many cases, particularly in the later stages of the disease, people with ALS have a need for continuous care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To defeat this disease, our community must be educated about ALS, as well as the issues confronting those who are affected by it. ALS Awareness Month increases the public’s awareness of people with ALS’ dire circumstances, and acknowledges the terrible impact this disease has, not only on the person but on his or her family and the community, and recognizes the research being done to eradicate this disease.

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